Railway traffic controlling apparatus



E. M. ALLEN RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 10. 1930Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNirs srs FFICE EARL M. ALLEN, or SWISSVALE,rnNNsYLvANIA,'Ass GNon TO THE UNION swiron &

sIeNAL ooMrANY, or SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENN-SYLVANIA RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Application filed.September 10, 1930. Serial 1\To '480,887.

My invention relates to railway trafiic controlling apparatus, and hasfor an object the provision of novel and improved means for controllingswitches and signals from 5 a remote point such as a despatchers office.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

\ The acco ipanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form ofapparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character T designates a railwaytrack which is divided by the usual insulated joints to 15 form a maintrack section 3-4- and an approach section 23. The main section 3 l isprovided with a switch S, and traffic moving toward the right into thissection is governed by a signal E. The switch S is operated by amechanism M which, as here shown, is of the electropneumatic type, andis therefore provided with a normal magnet N, a reverse magnet B, and alock magnet L.

25 the switch S is a circuit controller U, the

contacts of which are operated in the manner hereinafter explained. Thesignal E is controlled by a signal relay D through the medium of acircuit which includes a front 50 contact 7 of relay D and which circuitwill be obvious from the drawing.

The apparatus for the control of the switch S involves a normal controlrelay C w a reverse control relay C an approach locking relay A, and anapproach repeater relay A The apparatus also involves a group of relayscontrolled from a remote point such as a despatchers office, and thisgroup includes a normal code relay K a reverse code relay K, a codeoperating relay J, and a signal code relay X. The approach section 23 isprovided with a track circuit comprising a track batr, tery 5 and atrack relay F The main sec- 0 tion 3l is also provided with a trackcir-' cuit comprising a battery 6 connected across the rails at one endof the section, and a track relay F connected across the rails at v, theot-her'end of the section through its own front contact 13. This trackcircuit is pro- Associated with the mechanism M andvided with a shuntaround front contact 18, which shunt includes a back contact 12 of relayX. I

The approach locking relay A is provided with a main pick-up circuitwhich passes from terminal B of a source of current, through backcontact 8 of relay D, front contact 9 of relay F and the winding ofrelay A to terminal O of the same source. This relay also has a secondpick-up circuit which passes from terminal B, through back contact 8 ofrelay D, back contact 10 of relay F, and the winding of relay A toterminal 0. Relay A is provided with a stick circuit which passes fromterminal B, through back contact 8 of relay D, contactll of relay A, andthe winding of relay A to terminal 0. It will be noted that all three ofthe circuits for relay A include back contact 8 of relay D, so thatrelay A cannot be energized unless relay D is open.

The repeater relay A is provided with a circuit which passes fromterminal B, through the front point of contact 14 of relay A, frontpointof contact 15 of relay F, and the winding of relay A to terminal O.

Relay U is provided with a pick-up circuit which passes from terminal B,through front contact 16-17 of relay J, frontcontact 19 of relay K frontcontact 20 of relay A back contact '21 of relay C and the windingofrelay C to terminal 0. This relay is provided with a first stick circuitwhich passes from terminal B, through back contact 16 -18 of relay J,front contact 24 of relay C and the winding of this relay to terminal 0;Relay C hasa second stick circuit which is from terminal B, through theback point of contact 14 of relay A, front contact 24 of relay C and thewinding of this relay to terminal 0. A third stick circuit is providedfor relay O which circuit is from terminal B, through the front point ofcontact 14 of relay A, back point of contact 15 of relay F, frontcontact 24: of relay C and the winding of this relay to terminal 0.

Relay O is provided with a pickup cir cuit which is from terminal B,through front contact 16-47 of relay J, contact 22 of relay K contact 23of relay A back contact of relay C and the winding of relay C toterminal 0. Relay G is provided with three stick circuits which areidentical to the three stick circuits hereinbefore traced for relay Cexcept that, of course, they include front contact 25 ofrelay-C insteadof front contact 24 ofrelay C.

The signal relay D is provided with a circuit whichpasses from terminalB, through other controlling elements -which are not shown in thedrawing, front contact '48 of'relay P, polar contact 49 of relay P inthe normal position, front contact of relay F, front contact 51 of relayX,.and the winding of relay D to terminal 0.

The remaining circuits may best be traced during the explanation of theoperation of the apparatus as a whole.

As shown in the drawing, relay Ciis energized by virtue of thestick-circuit which includes back contact 16- 18 of relay J. RelayAi-s-energized by virtue of its stick circuit being closed at'backcontact 8 of relay D. Relay A is energized because relay A and v relay Fare bothenergized. All of the remotelycontrolled relays J, K K Jand Xare open. The normal :magnet N of the switchanechanism M is energized,the circuit being from terminal .13, through back contact 2G-of-relay 'Cfront contact 27 of're'lay C wire 28, and normal magnet N to terminal 0.The switch Sim-therefore, in itsnormal position.

Relay Pi'is energized-in the normal direction, the circuit being fromterminal B, through the normal contact 31 of the :switch mechanism M,normal contact 32 of circuit controller U, wire 33, front contact 34 of'relay C winding-ofrela'y P, front contact 35 of relay C wire-36, andnormal contact-37 of circuit controller U to terminal 0.

, :I-will now assume that theoperator desires to clear signal E-to allowa train moving -toward the :right topass throughthe switch S. To dothis, he will cause relay X to-become energized, tl1ereby closing thecircuit hereinbefore traced for relay D, andthe-closing ofrelayD willclosevthe cireuit-for-signal E. The closingof relay -"D will also causerelay 7 A;to become deenergized. When the train enters section 3-4, "itwill open track relay F, thereby opening at contact 50 the circuit forrelay D so thatsignal Ewill again assume the stop position. v

Rel-ay F will not againb'ecome energized until the train leaves sectionv34, unless the despatcher-releases relay X thereby closing at contact 12the shunt'around contact 13 in the circuit for relay 'F.

L I "I will now assume that the despatcher desires toreverse switch S.To do this, he will energize relays-J and K The energizi'ng'of-relayilwill-open thestick circuit for relay -C at contact 16 -18, so that relayC will become deenergized.

The pick-up nal B,through back contact'27 of relay C front contact 26 ofrelay C wire 30, and

the reverse magnet R'to terminal 0. Relay P wlllbedeenerglzed becauseits normal circuit is interrupted at the front points of contacts 34 and35 of relay C and, consequently, lock magnet L will be energized by acircuit which passes from terminal B, through back contact 29 of relayP, wire 52, andthe lock magnetL to terminal 0. Mechanism M will'thenoperate to movethe switch S to its reverse position. At the beginning ofthis operation, the left-hand contacts of circuit controller U willbereversed, whereupon an auxiliary circuit "for the lock magnet willbeclosed, which'circuit is from "terminal 13, through contacts 46 and 47,and the'lock magnet L- to terminal 0. NVhen the operation of the switchis completed, the. right-hand contacts of circuit controller U will alsobe reversed, and contacts 31 and 44 associated with-the mechanism M willbe swung to the right. Relay P will then lac-energized in the reverse-direction, the circuit being from terminal 13, through contact 38, wire39, "front contact 40 --of relay C winding of relay P, front contact-110f relayC wire 42, circuit controller contact 43, and switch mechanismcontact 44 to terminal0. It will then be possible for-the despatcher toclear another signal governing traffic over the switch-S, which signalis not shown in the drawing because it isnotessential to a completedisclosure of "my-invention.

lVhen the despatcherdesires-to return the switch S to its :normalposition,-he avill energize relays'J ancl--K thereby -againenergizingrelay C This will energize normal magnet .N and lock magnet L so thatthe parts will be restored to the positions in which they are shown inthe drawing.

Qnefeatureof my invention is the provision o'f-means for preventing aclear signal indication'bcing taken away by sendingout' a switch codefrom the despatchers office. This is accomplished by the back point ofcontact 14 of relay A. Assumingzthat switch S :is in the normal positionand that the signal code-relay Xis energized, so that signal Eindicatesvproceed, it will be observed that relay D -is-energizedso thatthe back contact 8 -of :this relay is open, and as a result all circuitsfor relay A are openand the relayis therefore 'deenergized. 7 If, 'underthese conditions, the despatcher attempts to reverse the switch S byenergizing relays J and K, the closing of these relays will have noeffect because relay C will remain energized due to its stick circuitthrough the back point of contact 14 of relay A. The pick-up circuit forrelay C will therefore remain open at back contact 45 of relay C as wellas at contact 23 of relay A and, consequently, the switch S will remainin its normal position. Furthermore, since relay C remains energized,relay P will remain energized thereby retaining the circuit for signalrelay D in its energized condition. In this way, the operation of theswitch control code relays, while signal E is indicating proceed, willnot cause this signal to change to the stop indication.

Another feature of my invention is the control of the polarizedindication relay P by the controlling relays C and C as well as by thecircuit controller U and contacts 31 and 34 of the switch mechanism M.By virtue of these circuits for relay P, I assure that this relay willalways follow the operations of the controlling levers for the coderelays J, K and K Apparatus embodying my invention is protected againstimproper operation due to momentary opening of the track relay F by amomentary break in, or a momentary shunt of, its track circuit. Thisprotection is accomplished by the stick circuit for relay F. In order tocause signal E to indicate proceed, the despatcher will energize thecode relay X, which relay will then be retained in the energizedcondition as long as the despatcher desires to have signal E indicateproceed. Relay X is not controlled by the track circuit for section 3-1, and, consequently, this relay will. continue to be energized afterthe track relay F becomes deenergized. Relay F cannot again becomeenergized until a stop signal code is sent out to deenergize relay Xwhich, by its back contact 12, will then complete the pick-up circuitfor track relay F, if the section 34l is unoccupied. Momentarydeenergization of track relay F will cause relay D to becomedeenergized, and relay A will then be come energized by its pick-upcircuit through back contact 8 of relay D and front contact 9 of relay FRelay F will, however, not again become energized until a stop code issent out to deenergize relay X. Relay A will remain Clo-energizedbecause its circuit is open at front contact 15 of relay F, and,consequently, the pick-up circuits for both relays C and C will be openat contacts 20 and 23 of relay A making it impossible to energize eitherof the control relays. Furthermore, the stick circuit for one or theother of these relays will continue to be energized through the frontpoint of contact 14 of relay A and the back point of contact 15 of relayF.

Apparatus embodying my invention. 1s

also protected against improper operation due to failure of a trainoccupying section 34 to effectively shunt track relay F. -Assuming thatthe train occupies section 3&'

and that relay X is still energized, it is obvious that a momentaryfailure of a train to shunt relay F will not permit this relay to-becomeenergized because its pick-up circuit will be opened at back contact 12of relay X and also because its stick circuit will be opened at contact13 of relay F.

Another feature of my invention is that when both relays C and C aredeenergized, relay P is placed on short circuit so that, under thiscondition, there is no possibility of relay P becoming falsely energizedby current of either polarity. The short-circuiting of relay P isaccomplished by two multiple paths, one of which is from the lefthandterminal of this relay through back contact 35 and back contact 41 tothe right-hand terminal; and the other of which is from the left-handterminal through back contact 10 and back contact 34 to the right-handterminal.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the ap pendedclaims without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, atrack circuit for said section including a source of current connectedacross the, rails at one end of the section and a track relay connectedacross the rails at the other end through its own front contact, asignal governing traflic over said switch, a'remotely controlled relayfor governing said signal, a shunt around said track relay front contactin said track circuit including a back contact of said remotelycontrolled relay, and means for controlling said switch by said trackrelay.

2-111 combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit for saidsection including a source of current connected across the rails at oneend of the section and a track relay connected across the rails at theother end through its own front contact, a signal for said section, aremotely controlled relay for governing said signal, and a shunt aroundsaid track relay front contact in said track circuit including a backcontact of said remotely controlled relay.

3. In combination, a railway switch, a normal control relay and areverse control relay for governing said switch, means controlled from aremote point for energizing either of said relays at will provided theother relay is deenergized, a signal governing trafiic over said switch,a signal relay for controlling said signal, an approach locking relaycontrolled inpart'by a back contact of said'signal relay, and a stickcircuitfor each of said switch control relays including a back contactof said approach locking relay, whereby when said signal inm dicatesproceed an attempted operation of said switch will not be successful andwill not result in changing the indication given by .the signal.

4. In combination, a section of railway track containing a switch, asignal governing traflic over said switch, a normal switch control relayC and a reverse switch control relay C for governing said switch, anapproach locking relay A, an approachlocking repeater relay A a signalrelay D, a polarized indication relay P; agroup of relays controlledfrom a'remote point and including a normal switch relay 'K, a reverseswitch relay K a code operating relay 2;; J, and a signal code relay X;a track circuit for said section including a source of current connectedacross. the rails at one end and a track-relay connected across therails at the other end through its own front :23 contact, a shunt aroundsaid track relay front contact including a backcontact of relay X, anapproach track section provided with a track relay F means forenergizing approach locking relay A when re- 25 lay D is open and relayF isclosed, or when ,relays Dand F areboth open, means for subsequentlykeeping relay A energized while relay D is open, means for energizingrelay P while relays 'A and F are both 20 closed ;.means for energizingrelay O While relays J, K :and Pare closed and relay O is open; meansfor keeping relay C energized while relay A is open, or while relay A isclosed and relay F is open, or while 5 relay J is open; meansforenergizing relay C while relays J, K and 'P are closed and relay O isopen; means for keeping relay C energized while relay A is open, orwhile relay A is closed and .relay F is open, or

:IZO while relay J is open; means for energizing relay '1 in normal orreverse direction when relay U is closed and said switch is in normalposition, and means for energizingsignal relay D when relays X and F areenergized and relay P is energized in normal direction.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EARL M. ALLEN.

